What is your opinion on the independence of Andorra?

[svin]

Is it positive or negative?

[Errigal]

I bought a sweater when I was there a few years ago. It seemed like a nice place. Good luck to them, as long as they don't become part of the Axis of Evil.

Edit:
Are you thinking of declaring yourself ruler like another Russian did in 1934?

Boris Skossyreff - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[Menydh]

It is a Pyrenaic Catalan territory. The only reason for its independence is being a tax haven. If that makes it a reason..

[svin]

What country suffers more from immigration, Andorra or Spain (not in absolute numbers, of course)?

[Menydh]

I haven't been to Andorra in years, so I don't know how the situation is there at present.

I believe that the current laws on immigration are among the toughest in Europe. Any would-be immigrant must go through a health check. HIV positive is a sure reason to have the application rejected, but so is drug addiction. And not just. Hepatitis, tuberculosis or diabetes are too. It is not only infectious pathologies but also pathologies that may make an individual unable to work and therefore become a burden to the state.

Non apt for work is also considered someone who has had a medical prescription and who has not followed it. Or a physical defect or some pathology which may require long terms in hospital.


Here is the normative from June 1993 (in Catalan):

Reglament regulador de les revisions mèdiques dels immigrants

[Ferran]

The last time I was in Andorra was 6 years ago or so to play against the second cadet basketball team (effectively, Andorra has no national league ). It was in the capital, Andorra la Vella, and for what I remember there were almost no immigrants, at least none of those you can identify with a simple walk on the street (I know there are residents from other European countries). So there must be two possibilities: either Andorra has not the best offer for cheap labour, or the immigrants normative Mynydd was talking about is a complete blessing. Cold Pyrenaic climate might be a possibility too.

[Señor Malo]

Originally Posted by Mynydd

I haven't been to Andorra in years, so I don't know how the situation is there at present.

They should implement the immigration rules with a circonsition checking

[M.R.]

I don't see much point in this 'independence' of such tiny states.

However, should states like Andorra, San Marino etc. not existed, Slovenia would be the smallest state in Europe.

[Crvena zvezda]

Originally Posted by Panonski

I don't see much point in this 'independence' of such tiny states.

However, should states like Andorra, San Marino etc. not existed, Slovenia would be the smallest state in Europe.

No. Montenegro is smaller then Slovenia.

[Errigal]

Originally Posted by Crvena zvezda

No. Montenegro is smaller then Slovenia.

The Channel Islands are another interesting case. They are not fully independent, but neither is Andorra.

Channel Islands - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Edit:

..and also the Manx Island, or Isle of Man
Isle of Man - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I like that these small territories and states exist.

[svin]

I have to agree, I like these small states. Not that I think that the whole Europe should consist of such states, but their existance is positive, at least this is my romantic point of view.

[Menydh]

Andorra is the result of a mediaeval state having survived until modern days. It has no other significance nor any other reason to exist.

Romantic? As much as the Grand Duchy of Moscow of 1300 or the Novgorod Feudal Republic of 1200.

[Aptrgangr]

Why does Andorra have no own € coins?

The tiniest state I ever visited was San Marino, the second smallest Luxembourg, I really liked it there. I always wondered why Italy did not absorb it. A state I want to visit one day is the Principality of Liechtenstein, I one time looked over the border when I was in Switzerland.
Besides tiny sovereign and half-sovereign states I also like enclaves resp. exclaves, like Llívia, Campione d\'Italia or Büsingen am Hochrhein. I lived near Büsingen a.H. and visited it often, a nice place.

[svin]

Busingen seems to be interesting place. I've read about it. For examble, citizens can call both Swiss or German police in case of troubles (the one they like or trust more).

[Menydh]

Svin, you are right that the survival of a mediaeval state until our days has a flair of romanticism. On the paper at least. However, all of this romanticism is lost when you learn that Andorra is a duty free shop from one end to the other.

The principle of territorialities in Spain are based on mediaeval states (kingdoms, principalities, lordships, etc.). Though still not how they used to be and how it should be with the return to a system based in the Old Fueros of The Spains.

[Theobald]

Originally Posted by Panonski

I don't see much point in this 'independence' of such tiny states.

That's my opinion as well. I have always thought of Europe as an alliance of strong and powerful Nations, not a medieval-like continent of tiny rival principalities (which is precisely what our enemies want Europe to be).
Ridiculous and non-ethnic * states like Monaco, Andorra, Belgium, San Marino or Luxembourg should be wiped off the European map. We already had these ones, now we have "Macedonia", Montenegro, Moldavia and soon Kosovo, then what else ? Northern Poitou-Charentes, Inner Eastern Sardinia, Continental Pomerania ?

* I mean, Slovenia or Slovakia are little countries as well, but they are Nations, they are ethnically coherent areas.